We serve community members interested in being a part of the entrepreneurial community focused on startups, technology and innovation, along with those interested in learning about it. We believe that in order to have a healthy entrepreneurial community, we need a healthy ecosystem of connected resources. This community consists of entrepreneurs, investors, government, universities, students, service providers, large corporations, etc. These participants, working together with shared passion, are vital to the success of an entrepreneurial community.

Why we build Emerging Prairie

Our goal is to accelerate the growth and development of our communities so the region can create, attract and grow the businesses today that will create its tomorrow. Emerging Prairie is a resource that provides:

A platform to share knowledge, success and experiences

The pulse of the region’s entrepreneurial activity

A network of passionate individuals shaping the region’s future

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DR. WILLIAM ADERHOLDT

Director of Grand Farm Project Management Office

William Aderholdt is a lifelong learner looking to take on challenges and engage with the community.  As the Grand Farm Program Manager, he works to establish relationships with government and institutions of higher education, assists with the development of the Grand Farm Initiative, and identifies and applies for grant funding opportunities.  He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy from Montana State University, having studied and researched education, rural community, civil rights policy, and human out-migration in rural communities. Prior to his current role, William established diversity and inclusion programs and investigated civil rights discrimination. He enjoys spending time talking about the future of our communities and how technology will change the world.

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JESSICA ANDERSON

Marketing & Communications Manager

Jessica is a Fargo-Moorhead native who recently graduated from MSUM with an advertising + public relations degree with a minor in Graphic Communications. Jessica is a creative thinker who is passionate about the entrepreneurial spirit in Fargo! In her free time she can be found outdoors the lake, spending time with friends and family, or grabbing a coffee in Downtown Fargo.

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DR. RUCHI JOSHI BHARDWAJ

Grand Farm Grower & Education Program Manager

Ruchi hails from India (7,203 miles from Fargo); however, she has been a loyal FM community member for the past 12 years since she first came to Fargo to pursue her Bachelors degree in Biotechnology at NDSU. She earned her Masters in Environmental Sciences while working with Native American students at 5 different reservations located within ND. In her free time, she can be found at her home relaxing with her pets - 3 dogs, 1 parrot, 1 ferret, 2 turtles and 12 goldfish.

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BLAINE BOOHER

Program Director of Emerging Digital Academy

Blaine Booher is a software engineer who has a passion for community, education, and technology. As the Program Director for Emerging Digital Academy he is excited about the potential impact that EDA will have on the region and the lives of our students. Blaine has been building web-connected software projects for 20 years, including the last 10 years where he ran a technology consultancy that built custom solutions for startups and small businesses. Blaine lives in Fargo with his wife, son, two cats, and too many bicycles. He enjoys fermenting everything and can often be seen riding his bike on rural gravel roads while eating homemade sourdough bread.

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SYDNEY BRUSSEAU

Prairie Den & Events Coordinator

Sydney is a Fargo native who graduated from Concordia College with a degree in Communications and Spanish and a minor in Business. Sydney is passionate about helping others reach their goals and is excited to continue to help the Fargo/Moorhead community grow and thrive. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family at the lake and trying out new coffee shops with friends.

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KATIE BURINGTON

Student Life & Recruitment Manager

Katie grew up in Marshall, MN and made her way to Fargo-Moorhead to attend Concordia College, where she graduated in 2011 with degrees in Psychology and Social Work.  Katie is passionate about coaching people on their strengths to help them accomplish their goals.  In her free time she enjoys running, gardening, and playing board games.  She lives in West Fargo with her husband and two energetic kiddos.

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LIZ CAMPBELL

Director of Organizational Development

Liz Campbell is a connector of people, always wanting to know what makes them tick and how she can help them succeed. Having worked in higher education at both NDSU and Concordia College after graduating from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Minnesota State University, Mankato, Liz thrives on empowering students to discover who they are, what drives them, and bringing that to their everyday lives. Liz was selected for the 2020 “35 Under 35 Women’s Leadership Program”, an enthusiastic believer of personal development and growth, and can often be found in the front row at concerts, catching up with friends at local breweries and coffee shops, or wandering around Downtown Fargo. She calls Fargo home, where she lives with her husband, Scott, and their adventurous corgi, Toby.

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BRIAN CARROLL

Director of Grand Farm

Brian is results-driven leader with extensive experience and success in driving strategic and operational excellence.  Brian spent 8 years as the Site Leader and Director of Advanced Engineering and Launch (AEL) at HERE Technologies and loves helping people plan, optimize, and launch new initiatives. He spent much of his career building high-performing teams in the location content industry, gaining experience in building operations in India, Mexico and Europe. While operations and project management are his primary job functions by day, Brian also enjoys spending time with his family and traveling to interesting places.

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HALI CHRISTENSON

Events Manager

Hali has always had a passion for event coordinating and loves schedules and details. An Oakes, ND native, Hali went south for college and graduated from Murray State University in Murray, KY with a degree in Organizational Communication. She previously served as the Director of Events at Scheels Arena where she oversaw concerts, trade shows, and sporting events. Hali is excited to bring her event planning knowledge to Emerging Prairie and continue making a positive impact on the Fargo-Moorhead community. In her spare time, Hali can be found shopping for a good deal, catching up on the latest reality TV drama, baking, or spending time with family and friends.

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KENNEDY FIELDS

Marketing Coordinator

Kennedy is a Minneapolis native who came north to NDSU in 2020, where she double majored in English and International Studies with a certificate in Professional Writing. While at NDSU, she traveled to eight countries and was co-president of the Entrepreneurship Club, and today, she is passionate about contributing to the contagious environment of innovation and connection that Emerging Prairie fosters. When she's not reading or drinking coffee, you can find her cross country skiing, planning game nights, learning to make new foods, and dreaming up her next travel destination.

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ANDREW JASON

Grand Farm Ecosystem Director

Andrew's entire professional career has been born out of a love of Fargo. During his almost nine years at Spotlight, Andrew worked his way up from unpaid intern to Editorial Director where he oversaw a team of a dozen talented staff in telling the story of Fargo-Moorhead's growth. During those formative professional years, Andrew discovered the work that Emerging Prairie is doing. He is excited about the opportunity to continue growing Fargo into being nationally recognized for its entrepreneurial ecosystem. In his free time, you can find him hiking with his wife and dog, enjoying a beer at the breweries, playing piano or counting down the days until his next trip. 
 
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NATALIE LEMNUS

Events Intern

Natalie is a Valley City native now studying Finance and Marketing at NDSU. She is involved in many different organizations across NDSU and strives to make it a place where everyone feels welcome. Natalie knew she always had a passion for business through innovation and connectivity. She is an adventurous soul who loves to travel, hike, snowboard, and seek some thrill. You can find her in her hammock reading a book or on a walk with dogs!

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MASON LEONHART

Student & Technical Support Specialist

Mason is an alumnus of Emerging Digital Academy, part of the Conway cohort that graduated in April of 2021. Very soon after, he worked at an amazing startup, Stax, where he developed an iOS application written in React Native. Mason is now enjoying his work days by offering mentorship and education as a Teaching Assistant for EDA.

Outside of tech, Mason has big passions for fitness, strategy games, history, and reading. He loves to learn anything and everything, new topics, new sciences, new languages, and loves to chase that "ahah" feeling that comes with the understanding of new knowledge.

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HALEY LEWIS

Accounting Manager

Haley is from Iroquois, South Dakota and graduated from South Dakota State University with an Agricultural Business degree. She then moved to Fargo and she obtained her Master’s in Accounting online through Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. In her free time, she can be found helping out on the family farm, hosting game nights with her friends, or spoiling her two dogs, Remi and Wesson.

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NATHAN MARCOTTE

Grand Farm Project Manager

Nathan is a graduate of North Dakota State University with a degree in computer science and a minor in entrepreneurship. While at NDSU he co-founded Pathway Ventures, a student-run venture capital fund. He has always had an interest in technology and now combines that with business and entrepreneurship. In his free time, you can find Nathan enjoying the outdoors and a good cup of coffee!

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ISABELLE MCLEAN

Grand Farm Partner Relations Coordinator

Isabelle grew up in Fargo, ND but spent summers and holidays visiting her dad in Honolulu, HI. Her love for warm weather and family connection led her to attend the University of Hawaii where she began pursuing a degree in Business Management. However, her roots brought her back to North Dakota where she is finishing her degree in UND’s online business program. In her free time, Isabelle enjoys reading, lifting weights, and playing any outdoor sports/games with friends and family.

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LISA MISTIC

Grants Manager

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LLOYD NELSON

Chief Financial Officer

Lloyd brings a wealth of experience across a number of industries and functions to Emerging Prairie as their Director of Operations.  Lloyd has an MBA from North Dakota State University and an undergraduate degree in Economics.  With a passion for technology and agriculture Lloyd looks forward to helping Emerging Prairie develop and expand their initiatives.  Lloyd lives on a farm just outside of Pelican Rapids and enjoys spending time with his family and fishing on the many lakes in the area.

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ANN NOBRIGA

Grand Farm Program Manager of Field Operations

Ann is a project management professional with a background in and passion for plant sciences. Her career has spanned from on-the-ground vegetation management and assisting biological research projects with government agencies and universities to coordinating software development projects and managing biologics manufacturing projects with stakeholders across the globe. Ann loves rural life with her husband by a small Minnesota lake where she gardens, dotes on her backyard chickens and house cat, and enjoys all the wild flora and fauna the area has to offer.

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ASHLYN SCHAUER

Marketing Intern

Ashlyn is a Jamestown, North Dakota native currently studying Strategic Communication at NDSU. She is involved in a variety of different organizations across NDSU and loves being active in the FM area. Ashlyn is passionate about community engagement and public relations especially when it comes to the Fargo/Moorhead community. In her free time she enjoys playing hockey, traveling, grabbing coffee downtown, and relaxing with friends.

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SADIE SCHAEFFER

Startup Programs Coordinator

Sadie studied communications and nutrition at Concordia College. Sadie has an organizational mindset and loves to help others pursue their passion and goals. In her free time, Sadie enjoys spending time with her family at the lake, walking her dog, cooking & baking and coaching at Orangetheory and F45.

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JENNY SHEETS

Director of Startup Programs

Jenny grew up between North Dakota and Montana, spending time on the plains and in the mountains. She earned a BA in English and Philosophy from MSUM, a Masters in Public Administration from Montana State, and a Masters in Creative Writing from the University of Montana. She founded a tech company with “no knowledge of the tech or startup worlds” and won several startup competitions and was invited to Techstars Bootcamp in NYC. She spends her time outdoors as much as possible. If it’s too cold, she will be inside cooking, reading, or learning a new skill such as how to make croissants or figuring out how to work a sewing machine.

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RILEY SLOAN

Events Coordinator

Like a plug to a socket, Riley connects. Outside EP he spend his time directing events and activities that involve local musical and visual artists of all genres and mediums. He also has a group of friends that he makes short films with. If Fargo were to be a person, Riley says it would be a young teenager full of potential. The landscape is the body, local businesses and entrepreneurs are the heartbeat, and people doing creative work are the personality. Riley loves being connected with the city on all levels through EP and his own endeavors. He is excited to continue pushing Fargo to its fullest potential.

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MADISON SIMPSON

Senior Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Madi has lived in Fargo most of her life and lives the downtown Fargo dream. She went to M State and received her Liberal Arts degree, and later started her own handmade clothing business when she was 22. In her free time, Madi can be found hanging out with her mini poodle Georgie, visiting the local antique shops, or enjoying an iced vanilla latte from one of the downtown cafes!

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GREG TEHVEN

Chief Executive Officer & Co-founder
Board Member

The CEO and Co-Founder of Emerging Prairie, Greg is a social entrepreneur and connector of people across the midwest. Learn more on LinkedIn.

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STETSON URLACHER

Grand Farm Events Intern

Stetson is from the western edge of North Dakota in the small town of Regent, ND. He is now studying Agricultural Education and Animal Science at North Dakota State University, where he has found his home in the many clubs and organizations provided through the college of agriculture. He strives to include others in the intricate details of agriculture and spreading the word about what we do at Grand Farm. When not in class or at work you can find Stetson hanging out with friends, trying new coffee shops, or out with his cows on the prairie.

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MATT WENDEL

Director of Marketing & Communications

Matt is passionate about creating an ecosystem that advances innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship. A communications, marketing, and public affairs professional, he helps tell the story of Emerging Prairie and its partners. Prior to his current role, Matt led communications and public affairs for the Colorado Technology Association to support and advance the state’s tech ecosystem and previously held senior positions in the Speaker's Office of the Colorado House of Representatives where he worked on issues including economic development, agriculture, and technology. He is a North Dakota native and is a graduate of Concordia College. Matt lives on his family’s farm near Kathryn with his wife Lynlee and their goldendoodle Sloan and enjoys being in the outdoors, travelling, and exploring new restaurants/breweries/wineries.

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SIMON ZAHRBOCK

Accounting Intern

Simon is from Marshall, MN and currently studies Finance and Accounting at Concordia College while competing in Track and Field. Simon loves to learn new principles and embraces bringing energy into each space he goes into. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his fiancé and their dog, hunting, playing video games, watch sports, playing golf and trying new adventures with friends and family.

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Our board members

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BYRON SNIDER

BOARD CHAIR

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KODEE FURST

BOARD VICE CHAIR

Kodee Furst is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Annie Capital, where she leads the firm's efforts in investing in the power of women entrepreneurs through funding, education and community development. She's spent the last decade of her career overseeing business development in multiple industries and has led growth activities across the United States. Her career and personal experiences are grounded in supporting women and solving big problems. In addition to Emerging Prairie, she currently serves on the Boards for North Dakota’s LIFT Fund and CTB and is a Founding Partner for North Dakota's Women's Entrepreneurship Week. After graduating from NDSU, she moved out of state and traveled across the country, but found her way back to North Dakota in 2015. She resides in Dickinson with her family.

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MIKE DERHEIM

BOARD SECRETARY

Mike Derheim is a lifelong entrepreneur. His entrepreneurial journey started at the age of 15 with his first company, and continued as he has co-founded and operated companies across a variety of industries. In 2003, Mike co-founded a digital consultancy called The Nerdery which went on to make Inc. Magazine's list of 5000 fastest-growing private companies in its first nine years of eligibility. 

In 2014, Mike co-founded Prime Digital Academy, a school for software engineers and UX designers. Prime has gone on to become part of The White House Tech Hire initiative. Mike made Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal 40 Under 40 list in 2012, was honored as a Minnesotan on the Move in 2012 by Minneapolis Finance & Commerce, and also named to Minnesota Business magazine The (Real) Power 50 list in 2013. 

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JONATHAN WARREY

BOARD TREASURER

A culture driven by performance and the ability to make a difference in the community led Jonathan Warrey to join Marco in 1996. Today, with his role in Sales Development, Jonathan combines his extensive sales and service experience to help drive Marco’s continued growth and impact.

Jonathan started as a sales representative, after graduating from University of North Dakota, and quickly earned leadership roles in sales management. He became Vice President of Sales in 2012 and was COO from 2014-2021.

An idealist at heart, he sees what can be and then enjoys bringing people together to achieve big outcomes. Over the years, Jonathan has been instrumental in helping shape Marco’s growth and creating a place where people love to come to work and do business. Inside Marco, he’s known for intentionally coming alongside team members to connect, support and provide coaching to help them grow and build careers. He brings a spirited laugh, sense of humor and calm, thoughtful demeanor to his work every day.

When he’s not at Marco, you can find him fully investing in his community and family. He’s particularly passionate about the Jeremiah Program, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing poverty two generations at a time, and the community of Casselton, North Dakota. He enjoys spending time at the lake, playing the drums, reading about history, watching all sports, and traveling with his wife and two adult children.

He has received a series of honors over the years, but his favorite remains the “World's Best Dad” Dwight Schrute statue given to him by his kids. They’re big fans of the show, The Office.

Education

Degree in marketing from University of North Dakota, 1996

Awards

  • University of North Dakota Young Alumni Achievement Award

  • Junior Achievement International Service Award

  • Heartland Technology Group Go-Giver Award

  • World's Best Dad Dwight Schrute statue given to him by his kids

Community Involvement

Marco Board Member, Casselton Park Board President, Board of Trustees for Jeremiah Program of Fargo-Moorhead, UND College of Business Advisory Council Member, Casselton Economic Development Committee.

Joined Marco

1996

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HOWARD DAHL

BOARD MEMBER

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BEC HEINRICH

BOARD MEMBER

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LAURIS MOLBERT

BOARD MEMBER

Lauris is the former Chief Executive Officer of TMI Hospitality, Inc., which owned and managed approximately 200 hotels in 26 states and had over 4,500 team members. Prior to TMI Hospitality, Lauris served as the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Otter Tail Corporation (Nasdaq:OTTR). 

Lauris serves on several Boards of Directors, including serving as the Executive Chair of Kilbourne Group, a real estate developer and services firm, and a member of the Board of Directors of Choice Financial Holdings, Inc., a bank and financial services firm with operations in North Dakota and Minnesota. He has also served on many other public, private and community boards, including as the Chair, Vice Chair and Trustee of the Sanford Health Board of Trustees. A native of North Dakota, Lauris graduated from the School of Law at the University of North Dakota (UND) and earned undergraduate degrees in accounting, finance and banking from UND.  

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JANE SCHUH

BOARD MEMBER

Jane Schuh is from Sheldon, ND and is a Professor of Immunology at NDSU, where she has also served in a number of administrative roles including Associate Director of the ND Ag Experiment Station, Assistant Dean of Academic Ag Programs, Director of the Cellular & Molecular Biology graduate program, Interim Dean of the College of Business, and currently as the VP for Research and Creative Activity. She believes in investing in the future, and deeply cares about her community and the state of ND. She’s grateful to those whose vision and dedication have built it into the wonderful place that she call home. She believes that we can change the world for the better, which is why she’s excited to be a part of Emerging Prairie.

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ANNUAL PARTNERS